This statistic shows the total population of Zimbabwe from 2014 to 2024 by gender. In 2024, Zimbabwe's female population amounted to approximately 8.71 million, while the male population amounted to approximately 7.93 million inhabitants.

Population density per pixel at 100 metre resolution. WorldPop provides estimates of numbers of people residing in each 100x100m grid cell for every low and middle income country. Through ingegrating cencus, survey, satellite and GIS datasets in a flexible machine-learning framework, high resolution maps of population counts and densities for 2000-2020 are produced, along with accompanying metadata. DATASET: Alpha version 2010 and 2015 estimates of numbers of people per grid square, with national totals adjusted to match UN population division estimates and remaining unadjusted. REGION: Africa SPATIAL RESOLUTION: 0.000833333 decimal degrees (approx 100m at the equator) PROJECTION: Geographic, WGS84 UNITS: Estimated persons per grid square MAPPING APPROACH: Land cover based, as described in: Linard, C., Gilbert, M., Snow, R.W., Noor, A.M. and Tatem, A.J., 2012, Population distribution, settlement patterns and accessibility across Africa in 2010, PLoS ONE, 7(2): e31743. FORMAT: Geotiff (zipped using 7-zip (open access tool): www.7-zip.org) FILENAMES: Example - AGO10adjv4.tif = Angola (AGO) population count map for 2010 (10) adjusted to match UN national estimates (adj), version 4 (v4). Population maps are updated to new versions when improved census or other input data become available.

The total population in Zimbabwe was estimated at 15.4 million people in 2023, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Zimbabwe Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The total population of Zimbabwe was estimated at about 16.99 million people in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the total population rose by approximately 9.90 million people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The total population will steadily rise by around 2.30 million people over the period from 2024 to 2030, reflecting a clear upward trend.This indicator describes the total population in the country at hand. This total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Zimbabwe (SPPOPGROWZWE) from 1961 to 2024 about Zimbabwe, population, and rate.

Actual value and historical data chart for Zimbabwe Rural Population Percent Of Total Population

Zimbabwe ZW: Population: Female: Aged 15-64 data was reported at 4,810,856.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 4,692,160.000 Person for 2016. Zimbabwe ZW: Population: Female: Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 2,463,281.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,810,856.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 965,515.000 Person in 1960. Zimbabwe ZW: Population: Female: Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zimbabwe – Table ZW.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 15 to 64. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

Zimbabwe ZW: Population: Growth data was reported at 2.323 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.336 % for 2016. Zimbabwe ZW: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 3.036 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.887 % in 1983 and a record low of 1.061 % in 2003. Zimbabwe ZW: Population: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zimbabwe – Table ZW.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; Derived from total population. Population source: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

This statistic shows the median age of the population in Zimbabwe from 1950 to 2100. The median age is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population. In 2020, the median age of the Zimbabwean population was 17.4 years.

Zimbabwe: Population density, people per square km: The latest value from 2021 is 41 people per square km, unchanged from 41 people per square km in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 456 people per square km, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Zimbabwe from 1961 to 2021 is 25 people per square km. The minimum value, 10 people per square km, was reached in 1961 while the maximum of 41 people per square km was recorded in 2020.

Complete population data for Zimbabwe showing how many people live in Zimbabwe from 1960 to 2024

In 2023, the annual population growth in Zimbabwe was 1.68 percent. Between 1961 and 2023, the figure dropped by 1.45 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Actual value and historical data chart for Zimbabwe Population Density People Per Sq Km

Actual value and historical data chart for Zimbabwe Population Total

Zimbabwe ZW: Population: Male: Ages 70-74: % of Male Population data was reported at 0.644 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.685 % for 2016. Zimbabwe ZW: Population: Male: Ages 70-74: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.796 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.884 % in 1964 and a record low of 0.644 % in 2017. Zimbabwe ZW: Population: Male: Ages 70-74: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zimbabwe – Table ZW.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 70 to 74 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Zimbabwe ZW: Population: Total data was reported at 16,529,904.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 16,150,362.000 Person for 2016. Zimbabwe ZW: Population: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 9,753,421.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16,529,904.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 3,747,369.000 Person in 1960. Zimbabwe ZW: Population: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zimbabwe – Table ZW.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: disaggregating the population composition by gender will help a country in projecting its demand for social services on a gender basis.

This is an extension of the Housing and Population Census of 2022 Volume 1. Volume 2 contains statistics and demographics at District and Ward level in Zimbabwe.

Abstract

In discussing census objectives, it is useful to distinguish between short-term objectives, which basically entail the delivery of data for immediate uses, and long-term aims which point more towards the infrastructure and capacity building of the statistical system. Long Term Objectives: - The provision and maintenance of a time series of relevant population data at national and sub-national levels. A series of periodic censuses, at regular intervals, is important in assessing trends. The past can be appraised, the present assessed and the future estimated based on benchmark data from censuses. - The development of national capacity to undertake censuses and related statistical activities. Zimbabwe's capability to undertake censuses and surveys has improved over the years. For example, three professionals among those directly involved in the 1992 census are working on the 2002 Census. The long-term objective of capacity building entails: - Developing Central Statistical Office (CSO)'s capacity to produce and to co-ordinate the production and dissemination of relevant, accurate and timely statistics to meet the information needs of various agencies; - Improving its capability to advise other Government departments and agencies involved in the production and dissemination of statistics; - General strengthening of the infrastructure at CSO. In this process the census project constitutes one of the major ways through which such capacity is built. It involves acquisition of significant hardware for various purposes and acquisition of skills by CSO staff through on-the-job training provided by international consultants and formal training through fellowships provided by various agencies. The type of training involved covers a wide range of areas e.g. project planning and implementation, data processing, demographic analysis, sampling techniques, etc. - Provision of a frame for other statistical activities such as the household survey programme. Since 1982, the census has become an important data set for establishing sampling frames and weighting factors for Zimbabwe's National Household Surveys Capability programme. The frame and factors are to be revised after every population census e.g. the 2002 census. It is important to stress this linkage between the census and the survey programme. In essence, the census provides the baseline for the survey programme in terms of maps and household data, which are required in creating the master sample and sub-sample for the survey programme. Immediate Objectives: In general this involves the provision of current information on demographic and related socio-economic characteristics of the population at national level and various sub-national levels to facilitate effective planning and evaluation of various programmes of government, private sector etc. This needs to be performed in a manner that ensures effective application by the various agencies representing the main census data users.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Households
• Individuals
• Persons aged 10 and above
• Women aged 12 - 49

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The questionnaire for the Population Census 2002 is divided into the following sections: A Household identification B Household composition and individual characteristics - For all persons (except questions 12 and 13 for people 15 years and below) C Education - for persons 3 years and older and for persons 3-24 years D Economic activity - for persons 10 years and above E Births - for women aged 12-49 years F Living conditions G Deaths in the household H Total number of persons in the households

The questionnaire is in English, and is provided as external resources.

Population ages 70-74, male (% of male population) in Zimbabwe was reported at 0.97231 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Zimbabwe - Population ages 70-74, male (% of male population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

Abstract

The 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (2015 ZDHS) is the sixth in a series of Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in Zimbabwe. As with prior surveys, the main objective of the 2015 ZDHS is to provide up-to-date information on fertility and child mortality levels; maternal mortality; fertility preferences and contraceptive use; utilization of maternal and child health services; women’s and children’s nutrition status; knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases; and domestic violence. All women age 15-49 and all men age 15-54 who are usual members of the selected households and those who spent the night before the survey in the selected households were eligible to be interviewed and for anaemia and HIV testing. All children age 6-59 months were eligible for anaemia testing, and children age 0-14 for HIV testing. In all households, height and weight measurements were recorded for children age 0-59 months, women age 15-49, and men age 15-54. The domestic violence module was administered to one selected woman selected in each of surveyed households.

The 2015 ZDHS sample is designed to yield representative information for most indicators for the country as a whole, for urban and rural areas, and for each of Zimbabwe’s ten provinces (Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North, Matebeleland South, Midlands, Masvingo, Harare, and Bulawayo).

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

• Household
• Individual
• Children age 0-5
• Woman age 15-49
• Man age 15-54

Universe

The survey covered all de jure household members resident in the household, all women age 15-49 years, men age 15-54 years and their young children.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The 2015 ZDHS sample was designed to yield representative information for most indicators for the country as a whole, for urban and rural areas, and for each of Zimbabwe’s ten provinces: Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands, Masvingo, Harare, and Bulawayo. The 2012 Zimbabwe Population Census was used as the sampling frame for the 2015 ZDHS.

Administratively, each province in Zimbabwe is divided into districts, and each district is divided into smaller administrative units called wards. During the 2012 Zimbabwe Population Census, each ward was subdivided into convenient areas, which are called census enumeration areas (EAs). The 2015 ZDHS sample was selected with a stratified, two-stage cluster design, with EAs as the sampling units for the first stage. The 2015 ZDHS sample included 400 EAs-166 in urban areas and 234 in rural areas.

The second stage of sampling included the listing exercises for all households in the survey sample. A complete listing of households was conducted for each of the 400 selected EAs in March 2015. Maps were drawn for each of the clusters and all private households were listed. The listing excluded institutional living arrangements such as army barracks, hospitals, police camps, and boarding schools. A representative sample of 11,196 households was selected for the 2015 ZDHS.

For further details on sample selection, see Appendix A of the final report.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Four questionnaires were used for the 2015 ZDHS: - Household Questionnaire, - Woman’s Questionnaire, - Man’s Questionnaire, and - Biomarker Questionnaire.

These questionnaires were adapted from model survey instruments developed for The DHS Program to reflect the population and health issues relevant to Zimbabwe. Issues were identified at a series of meetings with various stakeholders from government ministries and agencies, research and training institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and development partners. In addition to English, the questionnaires were translated into two major languages, Shona and Ndebele. All four questionnaires were programmed into tablet computers to facilitate computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) for data collection, with the option to choose English, Shona, or Ndebele for each questionnaire.

Cleaning operations

CSPro was used for data editing, weighting, cleaning, and tabulation. In ZIMSTAT’s central office, data received from the supervisor’s tablets were registered and checked for inconsistencies and outliers. Data editing and cleaning included structure and internal consistency checks to ensure the completeness of work in the field. Any anomalies were communicated to the respective team through the technical team and the team supervisor. The corrected results were then re-sent to the central office.

Response rate

A total of 11,196 households were selected for inclusion in the 2015 ZDHS and of these, 10,657 were found to be occupied. A total of 10,534 households were successfully interviewed, yielding a response rate of 99 percent.

In the interviewed households, 10,351 women were identified as eligible for the individual interview, and 96 percent of them were successfully interviewed. For men, 9,132 were identified as eligible for interview, with 92 percent successfully interviewed.

Sampling error estimates

Estimates from a sample survey are affected by two types of errors: non-sampling errors and sampling errors. Non-sampling errors are the results of mistakes made in implementing data collection and data processing, such as failure to locate and interview the correct household, misunderstanding of the questions on the part of either the interviewer or the respondent, and data entry errors. Although numerous efforts were made during the implementation of the 2015 Zimbabwe DHS (ZDHS) to minimize this type of error, non-sampling errors are impossible to avoid and difficult to evaluate statistically.

Sampling errors, on the other hand, can be evaluated statistically. The sample of respondents selected in the 2015 ZDHS is only one of many samples that could have been selected from the same population, using the same design and expected size. Each of these samples would yield results that differ somewhat from the results of the actual sample selected. Sampling errors are a measure of the variability between all possible samples. Although the degree of variability is not known exactly, it can be estimated from the survey results.

Sampling error is usually measured in terms of the standard error for a particular statistic (mean, percentage, etc.), which is the square root of the variance. The standard error can be used to calculate confidence intervals within which the true value for the population can reasonably be assumed to fall. For example, for any given statistic calculated from a sample survey, the value of that statistic will fall within a range of plus or minus two times the standard error of that statistic in 95 percent of all possible samples of identical size and design.

If the sample of respondents had been selected as a simple random sample, it would have been possible to use straightforward formulas for calculating sampling errors. However, the 2015 ZDHS sample is the result of a multi-stage stratified design, and, consequently, it was necessary to use more complex formulae. Sampling errors are computed in either ISSA or SAS, using programs developed by ICF International. These programs use the Taylor linearization method of variance estimation for survey estimates that are means, proportions, or ratios. The Jackknife repeated replication method is used for variance estimation of more complex statistics such as fertility and mortality rates.

The Taylor linearization method treats any percentage or average as a ratio estimate, r = y x , where y represents the total sample value for variable y, and x represents the total number of cases in the group or subgroup under consideration.

Note: A more detailed description of estimates of sampling errors are presented in APPENDIX B of the survey report.

Data appraisal

Data Quality Tables - Household age distribution - Age distribution of eligible and interviewed women - Age distribution of eligible and interviewed men - Completeness of reporting - Births by calendar years - Reporting of age at death in days - Reporting of age at death in months - Nutritional status of children based on the NCHS/CDC/WHO International Reference Population - Completeness of information on siblings - Sibship size and sex ratio of siblings

Note: See detailed data quality tables in APPENDIX C of the report.